For Your Daughter
This Father’s Day, if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for your daughter.
Dr. Mary-Claire King, a geneticist at the University of Washington, who is credited with discovering the BRCA-1 gene’s link to breast cancer, has been working in the prostate cancer field for over 40 years. She has worked with 1000’s of families and 1000’s of men, who have participated in studies on behalf of their sisters and daughters. Now, there is the opportunity to give something back to the men.
You see, she knows the correlation between genetics and inherited mutations in critical genes that lead to very high risks of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer are almost the same. In fact, PCF-funded scientists have discovered 16 inherited bad genes, including the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 genes, that can run in families. And these genetic mutations can be handed down from generation to generation leaving some family members with a higher risk for getting various cancers.
When men learn that they have the genetic mutation that predisposes him for prostate cancer, it’s important for them to be on appropriate screening regimen to pick up any prostate cancer early. But, it’s also important for their sister and daughters to be aware of their inherited risks for breast and ovarian cancer.
So, for Father’s Day, learn your family history of any cancer, including prostate cancer, ovarian and breast cancer and talk with your family about the risks that can be handed down from father to daughter.